This deliciously easy Caesar dressing can be made with or without anchovies, and instead of raw eggs it gets its signature creamy texture from good quality mayonnaise and sour cream.
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“Delicious, easy, fresh, and quick! Makes plenty and with most ingredients that are already in your kitchen. The cost of store bought dressings has gotten outrageous and a tube of anchovy paste goes a long way for a reasonable price. Thanks!” -Kim, FoodieCrush reader
Good News! You Don’t Have to Use Raw Egg Yolks in Your Caesar Salad Dressing
Homemade salad dressings are some of the easiest recipes any home cook should master. Ironically, it’s just about as easy to whip one up as it is to stand in front of the grocery aisle trying to choose which one you’ll like best.
Plus, with homemade dressing, there’s no guessing what’s in them because you get to decide which ingredients to include. I use this dressing in my classic Caesar salad recipe with homemade garlic croutons.
When people see an ingredient list that calls for raw egg and anchovies, they can get a bit squeamish about traditional Caesar dressing recipes. However, this recipe omits the raw egg and calls for mayonnaise and sour cream to provide a creamy texture. And, you have the option to omit the anchovies (but you’ll miss out on the extra umami they provide!).
The power of Caesar is in your hands, and with this creamy salad dressing, you’ll always be the big winner.
Enjoy!
Heidi’s Tips for Recipe Success
Choose the best quality mayonnaise you can find, and use regular fat sour cream for maximum creaminess. If you really want to go low-fat, you can, but your dressing may turn out a bit thin.
Skip the canned or pre-shredded Parm and use freshly, finely ground Parmesan cheese. You want the cheese to melt into the dressing and provide its salted, umami flavor instead of leaving stringy chunks.
Pressed, not diced, garlic is essential here. You don’t want to bite down on a big chunk of garlic by accident.
The Main Ingredients
The full recipe, with amounts, can be found in the recipe card below.
- Mayonnaise + sour cream — The mayo adds creaminess, and the sour cream adds tang to prevent the dressing from tasting too heavy.
- Red wine vinegar — Caesar dressing needs a bump of acidity to cut through the mayonnaise and sour cream mixture.
- Worcestershire sauce — Adds umami and works with the anchovies to create that “Caesar” flavor.
- Anchovies — You’ll want to use either mashed anchovies or anchovy paste. This is the secret ingredient that makes Caesar dressing taste like Caesar dressing, and not some other generically creamy salad dressing. But, if you ran out or absolutely do not want to use the anchovies you may sub them for 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce.
- Garlic — Normally I don’t care if you sub in garlic powder, but this is one recipe where fresh is a must. Use just 1 small clove or else your dressing will taste overwhelmingly of garlic.
- Parmesan cheese — Buy a block and shred it yourself so it disappears into the dressing without making it grainy.
- Freshly cracked black pepper — The pre-ground stuff doesn’t hold a candle to the flavor of freshly cracked black pepper.
- Tabasco sauce — Just a dash or two wakes up the dressing without making it taste even remotely spicy.
How to Make Caesar Dressing Without Eggs
I make this homemade Caesar dressing super easy by adding everything to a canning jar, closing it tight with a lid, and shaking it until blended.
🌟 If you like a thick Caesar salad dressing: Make it in a blender or food processor instead of shaking it in a jar or whisking. Blend all of the ingredients then slowly drizzle in ¼ cup of olive oil while the blades are going strong. This method will emulsify and thicken the dressing.
Ways to Use It
- Killer Caesar Salad with Homemade Garlic Croutons
- Chicken Caesar Salad
- Kale Caesar Pasta Salad
- Crispy Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps
- Chicken Salad (replace the dressing with Caesar dressing)
- Mediterranean Pizza (just drizzle a little on top – so good!)
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below, leave a comment to tell us what you think, and tag me on Instagram @foodiecrush.
Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup sour cream
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon mashed anchovies , (or anchovy paste)
- 1 clove garlic , pressed
- ⅛ cup Parmesan cheese , grated
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 2-3 dashes Tabasco sauce
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a small canning jar and shake to combine. Or, add to a medium size bowl and whisk to combine.
- Refrigerate in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- If you prefer to omit the anchovies, substitute the anchovies for an additional 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice instead.
Nutrition
FAQs
It’s likely you’ll find a killer Caesar salad on nearly every Italian restaurant’s menu. But, surprise! Did you know that Caesar salad was actually invented in Mexico? Just another fun fact for cocktail hour.
However, this particular Caesar salad dressing recipe hails from Salt Lake City’s Market Street Grill, where my husband and I met as servers, oh so many years ago. That place made a mark on me and on several of my favorite recipes here on the blog including THE BEST clam chowder recipe, my favorite tartar sauce recipe, the best steamed clams you’ll ever slurp, and my fave shrimp and crab seafood Cobb salad.
Still today, my husband can’t eat the clam chowder without a Caesar salad by its side. But then, it’s so easy to make, why wouldn’t you?
In the US, anchovies get a bad rap, where people squirm at the thought of eating them without ever even trying them. In reality, anchovies mash to a smear and are the salty ingredient that gives Caesar salad its signature flavor. Or instead of whole anchovies, try a good quality anchovy paste.
If you really can’t go for the anchovy flair, substitute the anchovies for an additional 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice instead.
NO. Miracle Whip works great in potato salad, but not so great in homemade Caesar dressing. You really have to make the Caesar dressing with mayo for a neutral-tasting creaminess.
Miracle Whip would add lots more sugar and tang to the dressing, which isn’t what you want.
Nope! Using both creates the perfect creamy but not-too-heavy consistency, with just the right amount of tang.
Storage
Store this homemade Caesar dressing in the fridge in an air-tight container. It’ll last up to 2 weeks if stored properly.
More Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes
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Kim Corcoran
Delicious, easy, fresh, and quick! Makes plenty and with most ingredients that are already in your kitchen. The cost of store bought dressings has gotten outrageous and a tube of anchovy paste goes a long way for a reasonable price. Thanks!
Ashley @ Foodie Crush
Thanks so much! I love this dressing!
Barbara Day
While this is a good recipe to replace the original dressing, I will certainly enjoy using it. Better than salmonella poisoning!